My kids know how to get home from anywhere in town. My ten year old rides around on his bike(which he bought with money he earned) all the time. Anyway this is a derail. Though I fully stand by all my statements.
Man it's almost like literally none of that requires a phone at all. Further it's absolutely hilarious you think that's "helicoptering". When your post literally opens with "you can track them with GPS".
Why would a kid have thier own phone? As for "allowance" my kids earn thier money. I still supervise what they buy with it. This is called parenting seems to be a lost art.